Globalisation, Conflict, Security and the State - SIMP19

15 credits, Spring 2019

Globalisation is a contested notion, which relates to the debates on changes and continuities in international relations. The objectives of this course are to provide you with different theoretical perspectives to critically analyse (a) the continuing relevance of the state and (b) positive and negative consequences of globalisation processes for various dimensions of security, such as military, political, economic, cultural and psychological.

About the Course

In the first part of the course you will be introduced to world system theory and how it may explain the present fragmentation of the world. Globalisation may also be analysed as an increasing interdependence on various geographical levels. The interplay between the global and the local is discussed with an emphasis on negotiations between transnational companies and states. The consequences of globalisation on the human rights system are also explored.

The second part addresses the transformation and reconfiguration of the state. Various notions, such as failed states, virtual states, trading states and regulatory states are explored and linked to issues of sovereignty, gender, identity-based conflicts, violence, transnationalism, citizenship and migration. The overarching question is in what ways and to what extent can contemporary globalisation enhance and/or undermine security?

About the Teaching

The course is co-taught and the teaching team is composed by Dr Annika Bergman Rosamond (Political Science and Programme Director, Global Studies), Professor Catarina Kinnvall, Dr Ted Svensson and Dr Catia Gregoratti. We all work at the Department of Political Science, however, we all share a strong interest in interdisciplinary research and methods as well as globalization broadly defined. Our teaching reflects this strong interest. Dr Bergman Rosamond teaches international ethics as well as gender, peace and conflict on the course. Professor Kinnvall has extensive expertise in the field of political psychology. Dr Svensson is an expert at security studies and border studies. Finally, Dr Gregoratti teaches and researches the global political economy. Together we aim to provide a high quality course that offers a number of reflections on Globalisation, Conflict, Security and the State.

In the words of the Course Coordinator

My name is Annika Bergman Rosamond (PhD) and I am a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Department of Political Science at LU. I am also the Director of the the MA in Global Studies at Lund. I have been working at Lund since April 2012. Prior to taking up my current job I held a post as Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen. I have also held lectureships in the UK. My broad research and teaching interests include global ethics, globalization, feminism/gender and international relations, international theory with focus on cosmopolitanism, Nordic foreign and security policy, the Arctic and celebrity activism in global politics. My teachings on SIMP 19 and SIMP 17 reflect these broad interests of mine.